The Song Fight Bulletin Board

Hey guys, I'm having a little trouble creating my first song. I have the drum track and I know how I want to record my vocals but I don't have any ideas for the music itself.

Is it feasible to lay down vocals after the drum track and layer on instruments later or is it better to figure the music out before I record any vocals?

you could record a scratch vocal track and compose your accompanying tracks around it, bottom up. Whatever functions as your bass, on up through your rhythm and so on-ish. Then cut a proper vocal and perhaps then add other soloistic bits. You are then all set after a good mixing and then mastering process. Specifics of the order to things do vary as do instrument choices- and you may have the midi. But that is my two cent-s-ical opinion

What RD said... lay down a rough guitar or keyboard track to keep you in tune and knowing where you are in the song, lay down vocals and then you can go back and re-do the instruments (assuming you're doing some sort of multitrack recording). And then when that's all over, you realize you can sing the song way bigger than you did that first time 'round and you re-do the vocals anyway

Charles (KA)

The general rule is: if it works, it's okay to do it.

Help appreciated guys, things are moving a little more smoothly now

IMHO, tracks that are written vocals first are usually better songs. Like everyone else said, the only caveat to recording vocals first is that you need some kind of tonal pad to keep you in key/tune. When you've got the vocals laid down, have a good listen to what you want the music to strengthen or accent.

What Signboy said. Or you could lay down a very rough vocal track, then lay down some chords that more or less match it, then re-record the vocals with the chords you already have. Don't be afraid to rerecord things. It's not like you're paying $300/hour for a studio tech (right?).